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Mastercard and JPMorgan Link Up to Bring Foreign Exchange on the Blockchain
21.11.2024
By integrating Mastercard MTN's connectivity with Kinexys Digital Payments, mutual customers of MTN and Kinexys will be able to settle B2B transactions through a single API
Zimbabwe Plans to ‘Float’ Rapidly Depreciating Gold-Backed Currency
11.11.2024
Zimbabwe has said it plans to let its rapidly depreciating gold-backed currency, Zig, float freely on the foreign exchange market. A central bank official said this would help the currency achieve price discovery without administrative interference. However, the official did not give a timeline...
Nigeria’s Currency Plunges as Dollar Liquidity Dries Up: Will a Naira-for-Crude Oil Swap Revive It?
31.10.2024
The Nigerian naira recently hit a new low against the U.S. dollar, ranking among the three worst-performing currencies globally. Dollar Liquidity Dries up The Nigerian naira, which has already lost over 70% of its value in 2024, recently dropped to a record low of NGN1,670.65 per U.S. dollar on...
World Bank: Nigeria Loses $8B on Foreign Exchange Subsidies Over 3 Years
25.10.2024
The World Bank reports that Nigeria lost over $8 billion due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) refusal to float the naira between 2021 and 2023. This foreign exchange subsidy, along with the fuel subsidy, deprived the government of revenue. The World Bank acknowledges the suffering...
Nigeria Receives Nearly $100,000 From Unlicensed Crypto Firms
16.10.2024
The Nigerian government received nearly $100,000 from two cryptocurrency firms accused of conducting unlicensed conversions of tether (USDT) to naira and vice versa. The two Nigerian cryptocurrency firms, Paparaxy Global Ventures Limited and Lemskin Technologies Limited were accused of operating...
Nigeria Injects $543.5M to Shore up Naira
9.10.2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $543.5 million into the Nigerian foreign exchange market between September 6th and 30th to address currency volatility. The bank attributed the volatility to high demand for imports and seasonal factors. Nigeria is facing foreign exchange shortages and...
Nigeria Introduces System to Boost Forex Market Transparency
5.10.2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is launching a new electronic system (EFEMS) to improve transparency in the foreign exchange market. This comes as the Nigerian currency weakens. Authorized dealers must comply with existing regulations and complete necessary preparations before using EFEMS....
Inflation, Dollar Shortage Fuel Stablecoin Use in Sub-Saharan Africa
4.10.2024
Stablecoins are surging in popularity across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 43% of crypto transactions compared to bitcoin’s 18.1%. This trend is driven by the instability of local currencies and limited access to US dollars. Businesses and individuals view stablecoins as a reliable...
Ghana Launches Gold Coin Priced in Local Currency
30.9.2024
Ghana’s central bank launched a gold coin to boost domestic savings and manage liquidity. The coins are available in October and priced based on the London Bullion Market Association auction price. Despite efforts to strengthen the cedi, Ghana’s currency continues to depreciate against...
Zimbabwe Devalues Gold-Backed Currency by 44%
28.9.2024
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has devalued the Zimbabwe Gold (Zig) by 44%, causing the currency to plummet from 13.98 to 24.3 against the U.S. dollar. This drastic move addresses rising exchange rate volatility and inflationary pressures that have plagued the economy since August. According...
Nigerian Currency Plunges After Central Bank Rate Hike
26.9.2024
The Nigerian Naira weakened significantly against the U.S. dollar following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to hike interest rates for the fifth time this year. The naira dropped to NGN1,658 per dollar on the official foreign exchange market after the CBN increased the benchmark...
Experts Question Ghana VP’s Gold-Backed Currency Pledge
22.8.2024
A Ghanaian banking consultant, Richmond Atuahene, has expressed concerns about Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s pledge to back the cedi with gold. Atuahene believes Ghana needs a stable economic environment before implementing this policy. John Gatsi, a dean at the University of Cape Coast...
Ethiopia Announces Launch of Forex Auction Sale Days After Birr Float
8.8.2024
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) said it will conduct a special foreign exchange auction on Aug. 7. The Ethiopian central bank envisions similar auctions in the coming weeks, depending on market conditions. The NBE said banks keen on participating must submit their bids on the date of the sale....
Group Urges Nigeria to End Naira Float, Reinstate Subsidies
7.8.2024
The Nigerian government has been urged to abandon a floating foreign exchange system and reintroduce subsidies in the power and energy, agriculture, and transportation sectors. In a communique, the Multidisciplinary Finance Professionals (MFP) said the Nigerian government should not determine...
Nigeria Acts to Stabilize Currency with Forex Auction
4.8.2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will reintroduce a foreign exchange auction system as part of efforts to ease pressure on the local currency. The CBN has called on authorized dealer banks to share their respective lists of outstanding forex demand by end users. Auction System Aims to Mitigate...
Ethiopian Premier Defends Currency Float Decision, Rejects Devaluation Claims
3.8.2024
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has defended the decision to float the birr and insisted that this move does not amount to the devaluation of the currency. Ahmed stated that the intention is to unify the official and parallel market exchange rates. Reports suggest that Ethiopia’s decision...
Ghana Launches Centralized Online Foreign Exchange Trading Platform
2.8.2024
The Bank of Ghana has recently launched a centralized online foreign exchange trading platform. This platform aims to enhance secure and efficient operations in the foreign exchange market. As of August 1, 2024, all licensed Foreign Exchange Bureaux are mandated to use this platform for buying...
Ethiopia’s Birr Falls 30% After Currency Float; Forex Surrender Requirements Scrapped
29.7.2024
Ethiopia’s birr plunged 30% against the dollar after the central bank floated the currency as part of reforms aimed at correcting foreign exchange market distortions. The bank also eliminated foreign exchange surrender requirements and lifted restrictions on certain imports. In return...
Zimbabwe Injects $50M in Forex Market to Stabilize Currency
27.7.2024
Zimbabwe’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), has injected over US$50 million into the interbank foreign exchange market to stabilize the economy. This move comes as the parallel market exchange rate is significantly higher than the official rate, causing economic instability....
Giesecke+Devrient: Ghana CBDC Nullifies the Need for Multiple Intermediaries in Cross-Border Payments
25.7.2024
The recently completed proof of concept by the Bank of Ghana and the Monetary Authority of Singapore demonstrated that the latter’s central bank digital currency enables cross-border payments, excluding many intermediaries and associated costs. Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) stated that the proof...